Hinde is the third release from Groeni, an atmospheric-electronic trio hailing from Wellington. The three-piece occupy a rather barren niche in the New Zealand music scene and have a noted reputation for hypnotic, immersive live performances. These quality performances, coupled with the exceptional production value of the group’s 2014 EP Hewn, have landed them a coveted timeslot at 2016’s St Jerome's Laneway Festival.
Groeni’s first two EPs were written by the group’s founder, Alexander Green. But since its inception, the project has expanded to include Wellington musicians Mike Isaacs and James Paul. Hinde is another step in the evolution of Groeni, with all three band members contributing to the EP’s composition. The shift towards a more collaborative process sees the deeply introspective tone of the first two EPs give way to a more free-flowing and distinctly approachable style of music.
Opening with ‘Hedre’, the four-song offering starts with the group’s trademark barren beatscape, giving way to Green’s unique, otherworldly vocals. As the track progresses, Green’s voice is warped and sampled over a beat that evolves into something unexpectedly catchy. The level of production skill exhibited in ‘Hedre’ (not to mention EP’s other three tracks) is so seamless that it’s hard not draw comparisons to the music of Burial and Four Tet.
The second song ‘Truce’ conjures the same kind of dystopian vibe that Thom Yorke harnessed in his 2006 masterpiece The Eraser. The album closes with the 8-minute instrumental track ‘Id’. All too often lengthy instrumentals can feel out of place on EPs, however ‘Id’ compliments Hinde’s more upbeat tracks and reinforces the group's high level of musicianship.
Hinde grows with each listen and is ultimately a demonstration of the potential of Groeni, and their evolving, maturing sound. This type of quality New Zealand release demands attention and should serve to build the momentum Groeni needs to create a solid debut album.
